Abbotstonians had the first chance of the match, a fairly easy penalty kick, which was missed, but after this Chiswick took control and retained it whilst playing entertaining open rugby.

A blitz of attacks culminated in a try for inside centre Dan Coffey after the home pack had won an excellent heel against the head in the Abbotstonians 22. Keith Luckman converted. Within a couple of minutes the second try arrived.

Simon Slattery made a long break down the wing, but was forced into touch. Mike Sampson, coming back from injury, nicked the lineout ball, and Chiswick went on the maul. Suddenly the maul split open, and Marko Chraplewczyk strolled over the line. Luckman pushed his kick.

Under no serious pressure, Chiswick blossomed. With scrum half Glen Ambrose playing a blinder, and with the whole team throwing the ball around and repeatedly altering the point of attack, they embarrassed the opposition. It should be said that the Abbotstonians defence, especially down the wings, was defiant, and put in many try-saving tackles. Winning another scrum against the head, Chiswick got into the visitors’ 22, and with good lineout play set up a maul. When this was held, Luckman made a dart for the line. Tackled just short, he switched to centre Sam Brown, who provided excellent support all afternoon and deserved the appellation “Araldite” for his ability to pick up poor passes. Brown dived over for number three. Luckman slotted the easy kick.

Prop Shane Donaldson was the next to make a break, but nobody could get up in support. With tempers getting a bit short, a Chiswick player was sin-binned for retaliation, and Abbotstonians had a temporary breather. Still nearly all the play was in the visitors’ half. Fast following up of a Slattery kick provided the position for the next try. Desperate defence by Abbotstonians led to a penalty. The ball was worked to No. 8 Euan Smith, who nearly forced his way over. The ball was recycled quickly, and slick passing gave Lee Miller enough room to round his marker and score under the posts. Luckman did not fail.

The first scrum of the second half , left centre of the pitch, was efficiently taken by Chiswick, and Ambrose rocketed away down the blind side. He veered towards the left, and then cut back right for a great individual try, duly converted by Luckman. Miller nearly got in for another, as Chiswick ripped the central defence apart. Prop Chris Betts nearly got through on the charge. Coffey nearly got another from an astute Ambrose kick.

Slattery was held up just short. With almost complete lineout and scrum control, the chances for Chiswick were numerous, and only a degree of carelessness and some good defence prevented further scores. Eventually, after the second five metre lineout, the home team mauled over the line for Alastair Pickering to score the final try. Luckman’s kick hit a post. Roll on March 19th and the Middlesex Bowl final at Riverside Lands.